Tender-truck.



No- 808,440. PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905 Y H. B. DREW.

TENDER TRUCK. APPLICATION FILED JULY22.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.v

PATBNTED DEC. 26, 1905. H. E DREW. TENDER TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1905.

W1 T/VESSES:

piarrun STATES PATIENT orrrou.

HARRY E. DREWV, OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR .TO NICHOLS ANDSHEPARD CO., OF BATTLECREEK, MICHIGAN.

TENDER-TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

' Application filed July 22,1905. Serial No. 270,784.

To (mil whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. DREW, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Battlecreek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan,have invented a certain new and useful Tender-Truck, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being bad therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tender-trucks, and especially to the trucks oftenders designed for use in connection with traction-engines, the objectof the invention being to providea simple, light, and durable truckcomposed of metal throughout and having the runninggear thereof soconstructed and arranged as to permit the truck to turn in a shortcircle and closely follow the traction-engine to which it is coupled.

A further object of the invention is to provide such truck withshort-turning steeringgear so connected with the traction-enginerunning-gear that the truck-wheels will be antomatically controlled bythe traction-engine and the tender-truck caused to follow the movementsof the engine, the tender-truck wheels being compelled to track behindthe steering-wheels of the traction-engine.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thetender-truck frame embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the same, partly in section, showing the body in dottedlines. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the connectionbetween the tender-truck and the steering-axle of a traction-engine.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all figures ofthe drawings.

In tender-trucks, especially those used in connection withtraction-engines, it is important for the tender-truck to follow veryclosely behind the traction-engine, particularly in turning curves. Inorder toaccomplish this, special provision must be made whereby thetender-truck wheels will turn short and be readily controlledautomatically by the turning of the wheels of the traction-engine.

In carrying out the present invention I construct a tender-truck framewhich comprises longitudinal frame-bars 1, one or more crossbars 2,connecting the bars 1, and diagonal bars 3, which form the marginal barsof the frame and also serve as braces for the frame as a whole. Inconnection with the truck-frame thus far described I also employ anaxleframe embodying a body-bolster 4, pedestals or brackets 5, locatedbeneath the end portions of the bolster, and a tie-bar 6, which extendsbeneath the brackets 5. The body-bolster 4 is curved or dished, asshown. to form a supporting-seat for the body 7, which is usually ofsemicylindrical form, said body being secured directly to the bolster.The pedestals or brackets 5 are substantially triangular in shape andare provided with ears or lugs 8 to allow for fastening the bracketsfirmly to the under side of the bolster. At their outer lower cornersthe brackets are provided with downwardly-extending pintles 9, whichpass through the tie-bar 6 and receive nuts or other suitable fastenersbeneath said bar. Upon the pintles 9are mounted stubaxles 10, which arethus adapted to swing or turn horizontally. These axles are providedwith spindles upon which the carrying and steering wheels 11 arejournaled, and they are also provided with inwardly-projecting leverextensions 12, which are slotted, as shown, to receive the opposite endsof an equalizing-lever 13, said lever beingfulcrumed at acentral pointon a pivot 14, consisting of a pin or bolt, which passes through thebody-bolster 4L and the tie-bar 6 and connects the same together. Theends of the equalizing-lever are slotted, as shown at 15, and receivebolts or couplingpins 16, carried by the inner ends of the stubaxles,which arrangement allows the lever and stub-axles to swing freely andcauses the swinging movement of one stub-axle to be imparted to theother.- The stub-axles thus swing in unison and to an equal extent andkeep the wheels in parallel relation at all times. Steering connections17, preferably in the form of rods, connect with the stubaxles throughthe pins 16 and extend forward to thesteering-axle of thetraction-engine, to which they connect pivotally, as shown. Thus as theaxle of the traction-engine is turned corresponding movement is impartedto the stub-axles of the tender-truck and the wheels of the latter arecaused to track the steeringwheels of the engine. The tender thusclosely follows the path of the engine whether the latter is moving in astraight or curved line.

18 designates an auxiliary bolster for supporting the rear end of thebody of the tender, and 19 represents a foot-platform mounted on thetruck-frame and arranged in front of the body. A draft or draw bar 20extends lengthwise of the truck-frame, reaching from end to end thereof,and is provided at both ends with eyes 21 to receive suitable couplingdevices for enabling other trucks to be coupled to the tender-truck infront or in rear. Said drawbar takes all the strain of following trucksattached behind the tender-truck, and thus relieves the tender truckframe, which may therefore be made quite light.

Having described the invention, I claim as new 1. A tender truckcomprising a truckframe, an axle-frame connected thereto and embodyingabody-bolste r, brackets secured to the body-bolster, pintles formed onthe brackets and projecting downward therefrom, atiebar connecting thepintles beneath the brackets, stub-axles journaled on the pintlesbetween the brackets and tie-bar, and an equalizing-lever pivotedbetween the body-bolster and tie-bar and having jointed connection atits ends with the stub-axles.

2. A tender truck comprising a truckframe, an axle-frame connectedthereto and embodying a body-bolster, brackets secured to soaeeo thebody-bolster, pintles formed on the brackets and projecting downwardtherefrom, a tiebar connecting the pintles beneath the brackets,stub-axles journaled on the pintles between the brackets and tie-bar,and an equaliz ing-lever pivoted between the body-bolster and tie-barand having a pin-and-slot connection at its ends with the stub-axles.

3. The combination with the steering-axle of a self-propelled vehicle,of a tender-truck comprising a truck-frame, an axle-frame connectedthereto and embodying a body-bolster, brackets secured to thebody-bolster, pintles formed on the brackets and projecting downwardtherefrom, a tiebar connecting the pintles beneath the brackets,stub-axles journaled on the pintles beneath the brackets and tie-bar, aslotted equalizing-lever pivoted between the body-bolster and thetie-bar, steering connections leading from the said steeringaxle to thestub-axles, and pins forming common connections between the stub axles,equalizing-lever and steering connections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY E. DREW.

Witnesses:

H. D. FERGUSON, DARWIN O. ROLFE

